53 questions you might be asked in a French citizenship interview

Applying for French citizenship is a long and complicated process – it’s slightly easier if you are applying through marriage to a French person (par déclaration) than through residency (par décret) but each pathway involves an in-person interview at the préfecture.

First of all you need to check if you are eligible for French citizenship, and then you will be putting together a large dossier of documents, with appropriate translations, in order to submit your application.

People applying since January 1st 2026 also have to take a written test on French history and civics; this is a multiple-choice exam that you take online in a test centre – full details here.

If your application is accepted and all your documents are in order, the next stage is receiving a convocation to an in-person interview at the préfecture (or consulate if you are applying from outside France).

You can find information on all aspects of the process in our French Citizenship section HERE.

READ ALSO: Everything I wish I knew before applying for French nationality

Variations

Part of the reason that the interview is so feared is that it is totally unpredictable, some people report a short, friendly chat with their interviewer, while others are grilled for up to an hour on all aspects of France, French history, politics, culture and values.

You can pretty much guarantee that you will be asked why you want to become French – and saying that you just want a shorter queue at passport control is unlikely to go down well.

The interview stage is far from being a formality – a significant chunk of applications are rejected at this stage (up to one third, although there are wide variations between préfectures).

READ ALSO: Updated guide: How to get French citizenship

Questions

So what are you likely to be asked? The Local has collected answers from people who have been through the citizenship interview within the past year, at a variety of préfectures.

Some come directly from readers, others via Facebook pages dedicated to the citizenship process, including the very helpful Applying for French Nationality.

Hopefully this goes without saying, but the interview is in French, so prepare your answers en français.

Some of these questions have a simple factual answer, but many are about describing your experiences – for the answers to the factual questions, you can download the (free) Livret du citoyen 2026, or take our quiz.

Motivation 

1 Why do you want to become French?

2 With your residency card, you already have the right to live and work in France, so why become French?

3 Why did you decide to move to France and what made you stay?

4 What are your hobbies?

5 Are you a member of an association or club?

6 How well integrated are you into French society?

7 Do you have French friends?

8 Is your social circle mostly French or mostly foreign?

9 How often do you travel to your country of origin?

10 Do you have family in your country of origin and do you send them money?

11 Do you own property in France or in your country of origin?

12 Do you travel in France? Do you have a favourite region/city? How many areas of France have you visited?

Factual questions

13 What happened on July 14th, 1789?

14 What was the political regime in France before the Revolution?

15 Name two kings of France.

16 What is the political regime now?

17 Under whom was the Fifth Republic founded?

18 Name two presidents of the Fifth Republic.

19 Who is the current prime minister?

20 For how long is the president elected?

21 How many times can a president stand for office?

22 Name three symbols of the French Republic.

23 What is the motto of France?

24 What are the rights and responsibilities of French citizens?

25 Who wrote La Marseillaise?

26 What is the fourth value of France?

27 Who is the mayor of Paris/your city?

28 Name some of the French political parties.

29 Who was Marie Curie?

30 Tell me about Simone Veil

31 Tell me about Josephine Baker

32 Which six countries founded the European Union

33 List five French overseas départements or territories

34 Name a French mountain/river/sea

35 Tell me about something recent in the news.

Value questions

When it comes to questions about French values, you have to not only be able to explain them, but also express your agreement with them.

Disagreeing with something that is defined as a core French value – for example, equality between men and women or secularism – would likely result in citizenship being denied.

36 What is the motto of France and what value does it have for you?

37 The value of ‘liberté’ – what does that mean to you?

38 What are the main differences between France and your country of origin, for example, the concept of fraternity?

39 Explain the French principle of laïcité.

40 Do you agree with the principle of laïcité [almost everyone is asked this, so it’s definitely worth preparing an answer]

41 What should you do if a colleague is wearing a religious symbol at work?

42 What do you think of equality between men and women?

43 Do you agree with the concept of equality between men and women?

44 What year was equal marriage legalised in France?

45 Would you accept it if one of your children was gay?

46 Explain the rules around freedom of expression in France. Is satire included in this?

French culture

47 Talk about French films or TV series you have seen recently.

48 Who is your favourite French actor?

49 Who is your favourite French singer?

50 Name some traditional French dishes.

51 What is your favourite French food?

52 What is your favourite cheese?

53 Do you prefer red wine or white wine?

Before you panic too much – no one would be asked all of those questions, you’d be there all day. Many people reported being asked around 30 questions, although for some it was a much shorter and more informal chat.

If you want to keep practising, head to the 200 Questions d’entretien de naturalisation Française 2024 page here